"Lopez Tonight" and Just For Laughs

It has been roughly over one week since my appearance on "Lopez Tonight" and my set at Just For Laughs - Chicago. I'm still processing the experience and thinking about all the wild and worthwhile times I had, but I definitely know one thing: That week solidified what I want to do with the rest of my life - work with other funny people, toss around hilarious ideas, and enjoy every second of being creative.

Walking through the doors of the Lopez Tonight set and trotting down the stairs to hop on stage at the Red Bar Comedy Club were two very exciting moments for me, because I didn't trip.

I got on stage, told some jokes, had a ton of fun, and when it was time to head home, I knew that I wanted to work even harder to get back.



Right now, home is New York City where I'm taking part in the International Radio & Television Society (IRTS) Summer Fellowship Program, which I highly recommend to juniors and seniors in college who are interested in getting into the television (or radio) industry, and while I'm here, I'm going to make the most of my time in the Big Apple.

Every day I'm writing, every day I'm trying to find new outlets to be creative, and every day I'm having fun. And that's important. A lot of people don't have fun with what they do. But that's why video games were created.

On occasion, things just work out, but a lot of success comes from a lot of hard work.

Just keep working at it. You'll be back.

Penn State won the National College Comedy Competition 2011

I had one of the most incredible moments of my life and it happened on a MegaBus.

Sigh.

But honestly, seeing the words Penn State wins the RooftopComedy.com National College Comedy Competition presented by TBS and is the funniest school in the country was one of the best things I've ever read, off of any phone screen ever, today.

Words cannot explain how honored I am. Industry professionals, fellow comics, family members, fans of Second Floor Stand-up, and everyone in the Penn State comedy scene were behind us.


Through eight rounds, Penn State and Second Floor Stand-up came out as winners. And at the end of the tournament, the bracket was perfect.




Thank you to everyone who laughed with us along the way. There are more jokes and good times to come.

Here is the official press release from Turner discussing the tournament's wrap up and what happens next:

Release Date: 5/9/2011

Winner of Rooftop Comedy’s National College Comedy Competition to Perform on TBS’s Late-Night Hit Lopez Tonight

Member of Winning Teams Appearance Slated for the Week of June 13
This year’s nationwide search for America’s funniest college students has come to an end, and the team from Penn State University has won the top prize in the fourth annual Rooftop Comedy National College Comedy Competition (NCCC) Presented by TBS. Now, that team’s MVP – Brandon Scott Wolf – has been offered the chance of a lifetime: the opportunity to perform in front of a national television audience on TBS’s late-night series Lopez Tonight, hosted by George Lopez

“Since its earliest days, late-night television has been a great launch pad for up-and-coming comedians, so I’m really excited to carry on that tradition by giving the winner of the National College Comedy Competition a chance to shine on Lopez Tonight,” said Lopez. Brandon Scott Wolf’s performance on Lopez Tonight is slated for the week of June 13.

Ohio State University, the University of Florida and Portland State University joined Penn State in the NCCC’s Funniest 4 final round. Aaron Nemo of Ohio State, Rudy Mendoza of the University of Florida and Andrew Dhulst of Portland State were each chosen as this year’s MVPs. Along with Brandon Scott Wolf, they will be offered the opportunity to perform at the star-studded TWIX® Presents: TBS Just for Laughs Chicago, taking place June 14-19.

Since the beginning of February, college students from across the country have been competing in the art of stand-up comedy for a shot at being crowned “America’s Funniest Comedy Team.” The annual competition begins each year with events held on 32 different campuses. At each event, students perform live stand-up routines, with the audience selecting the funniest to represent their school. Those teams then go on to compete in regional match-ups and elimination rounds that narrowed the field to the Select 16, then to the Ultimate 8 and the Funniest 4.

Comedy fans watched stand-up sets from each of the Funniest 4 team members and voted for their favorite college team at http://tbs.com/college. A highly esteemed panel of judges from the comedy, entertainment and media industries reviewed the finalists and chose the winning team and four MVPs (one from each team). The judging panel included Lopez Tonight comedy producer Adam Spiegelman, Punchline Magazine editor-in-chief Dylan Gadino, Emmy®-winning comic Jon Friedman, talent manager Bruce Smith and Just For Laughs’ Robbie Praw were among the judges for the final round the competition.

Second Floor at Just For Laughs - Chicago

Two years ago I had a mic stand, a microphone, an amplifier, a stool, and a second floor apartment in downtown State College.

This is how Second Floor Stand-up became a reality.



After a lot of learning, a fair amount of mistakes, and a hell of a lot of fun and laughter, we've gone from performing in my cramped living space, to halls around campus, bars around town, dining commons, area theatres, fraternities, sororities, and now, we've reached the final four in RooftopComedy.com's National College Comedy Competition presented by TBS where we've been guaranteed that one Second Floor Stand-up comedian will have the chance to perform at Just For Laughs - Chicago 2011.

If someone told me that myself or a fellow Second Floor comic would be able to perform at such a huge comedy festival in Chicago within the first two years of our club's existence, I would have thought it was a crazy, unattainable goal, but here we are.

It's an honor to reach this level of success while in college and I'm very happy that I could do it alongside my friends. Second Floor was the best thing I did in college and I am proud to say that we made Penn State a better place because of our humor.



What's next for Brandon, you say?

I'm eyeing a peanut butter sandwich in my kitchen.

On to the Ultimate 8

The Penn State Comedy Team, which is comprised of four Second Floor Stand-up members, has beaten Emerson College in the round of 16 and has advanced.

We were named today as one of the eight funniest schools in the Nation by RooftopComedy.com and TBS and we will continue to advance as long as we have the support of our university, our friends, our family, and our fans.

I will keep you updated on our trials and tribulations as we continue on our route to become the funniest comedians in the nation.

Penn State's Comedy Team and more!

A field of 20 stand-up comedians from Penn State University was cut down to eight.

Those eight comedians traveled to Philadelphia to perform at Helium Comedy Club in the RooftopComedy.com National College Comedy Competition presented by TBS.

This year's PSU team was the funniest group of kids I've ever had the pleasure of being on the same bill with.

Everyone delivered hilarious sets, but by the end of the night, the judges had to pick their top four comedians.

The people that will represent Penn State in this year's 32-team NCAA March Madness-style competition are: Matt Rain, Stephanie Wain, Kevin Gallagher and myself.


In the first round of this tournament, PSU will take on the top four funniest students at Temple University in an online voting contest held on RooftopComedy.com/TBS.com.

The voting for this round begins on Sunday night at midnight and goes until Tuesday night at midnight.

You can vote for us every 5 minutes during that time period after you register for a free user name at RooftopComedy.com and help PSU win a National Championship!

The National College Comedy Competition 2011

After competing in stand-up comedy against 19 other Penn State students, I was voted on to the 2011 edition of PSU's National College Comedy Competition.



I am honored and excited to once again represent my university while performing alongside some of the funniest and most hilarious people I know.

I'm looking forward to watching my taped performance in this year's NCCC and I will hopefully be able to post it online for everyone to enjoy.

Look for more info about the next round of this year's competition in the coming weeks.

I'll see you at Helium Comedy Club in Philly, Temple University.

Let the jokes continue!

2011 John W. Oswald Award

I was e-mailed earlier today by Penn State University. I knew it was good news because the first word after "Dear Brandon:" was "Congratulations!"

I am honored to accept the John W. Oswald Award, which recognizes leadership in categories such as sports, arts, service and scholarship.

As a Division I athlete and member of the Penn State Nittany Lions football program...

Yeah, let's just say I'm not receiving this award because of my athletic prowess on the grid iron...

I am however, being recognized for my hard work at Penn State within the world of the performing and creative arts. Without organizations like Second Floor Stand-up and Phroth, I would not have been reading that e-mail today.

Thank you to anyone who has ever worked with me over my college career. I am very thankful to those who have helped shape me into the person I am today.

To learn more about last year's John W. Oswald Award recipients and the award I will be receiving, click here.

Thank you, PSU.